KAU to review postings of Deans, Research Directors

The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) general council, which met here on Saturday, decided to review the appointments of faculty deans and directors of research and extensions made in 2010.

The decision was taken on the basis of a complaint filed by P Sivaprasad, associate director of research, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, alleging irregularities in the appointments.

The Chancellor had referred a representation of Sivaprasad, made on the basis of a Kerala High Court directive, to the general council. Some members abstained from voting, alleging impropriety in the move to reopen the issue.

The council nominated  V J Pappu, Cusat former  Pro-Vice-Chancellor to the selection committee  to appoint the new Vice-Chancellor. As per the provisions of the KAU Act, the selection committee consists of representatives of the general council, Chancellor of the University (Governor of Kerala) and ICAR. The position of Kerala Agricultural University VC has been lying vacant from March 28, 2012 consequent to completion of K R Viswambharan’s tenure. K R Jyotilal, agriculture secretary, has been holding the additional charge of KAU VC since then.

Subrato Biswas, Agricultural Production  Commissioner, told the Council that a proposal to enhance non-plan grant in aid for the University was being considered and the government would do all possible help to protect and promote the KAU, the expertise of which was indispensable for safeguarding the interests of farming community of Kerala.

V S Sathyaseelan, representative of the non-teaching staff, said that the demands for rectification of anomalies in the revised pay structure of university employees were under the government’s active consideration.

The finance management of the university would be streamlined and strengthened.

Replying to a question raised by A Anilkumar, the VC said that `14.75 crore was required to pay the pension benefits of teachers, who retired from the KAU.

Efforts are on to get the state’s share of UGC 1996 package amounting to `14.495 crore.